National School Choice Week begins today in Oklahoma and across the country. There are 177 events planned in the Sooner State to raise awareness about K-12 school choice, and 21,392 events nationwide.

The events in Oklahoma, which are independently planned and independently funded, include everything from information sessions and open houses at schools to rallies, policy discussions, and movie screenings organized by community groups. Highlighted events include a large school choice fair January 26 at 4 p.m. at Oklahoma City Community College.

The county of Garvin and Governor Fallin have issued official proclamations recognizing January 22-28, 2017 as “School Choice Week.”

National School Choice Week provides families in Oklahoma with the opportunity to research and evaluate the K-12 school choices available for their children in advance of the 2017-2018 school year. The Week also raises awareness of the importance of providing every child with effective education options.

“Choosing the right school for your child is incredibly important, and information from schools and your local community is crucial to making the right selection,” said Robert Ruiz of the Scissortail Foundation. “We look forward to gathering families from across the city together for a festive, functional time of exploring options and celebrating what works in every sector of education.”

“Over the last 10 years, educational opportunities for children and families in Oklahoma have grown significantly,” said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. “This is something to celebrate, and National School Choice Week will provide an unprecedented opportunity to celebrate the hard work and cooperation that made these choices a reality.”

With a goal of raising public awareness of effective education options for children, National School Choice Week will be the largest celebration of education options in US history.

SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR OKLAHOMA FAMILIES

  • According to National School Choice Week’s organizers, families in Oklahoma can use the Week to look for K-12 schools for the 2017-2018 school year. Parents in the Sooner State can choose from the following education options for their children: traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, online academies, private schools, and homeschooling. In some parts of the state, open enrollment policies allow parents to select the best traditional public school, regardless of where the school is located. The state also has a program allowing qualifying children, in some cases, to receive scholarships to attend private schools.

ABOUT NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK

  • National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort spotlighting effective education options for children, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, online learning, and homeschooling. The Week runs from January 22-28, 2017. For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com.